The Gradual Fall 2022 Vol. 106

Table of Contents

Letters to Graduates

Casey Wilson: History Major Grace Hall: Political Science Major

Dayami Vera: EC-6 Bilingual Education Major

Yamam Saheb: Finance and Management Major

Aajah & Teajah Odem: Criminal Justice Majors

List of Undergraduates

List of Graduates

Jennika Appelberg: Management Major

Merilyn Pena-Chavez: English Major

Calvrann Coker: Finance Major

Jonathan Nelson: Management Major

Brandon Lehman: EC-6 Education Major

Haley Harvey: Exercise Science Major

Ashley Babb: Marketing Major

Opinions expressed in THE RAMBLER are those of the individual Authors only and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Texas Wesleyan community as a whole. To contact us, call 817.531.7552.

Student Media Director: Dr. Jenny Dean

Rambler TV Adviser: Dr. Ngozi Akinro

Editor-in-Chief: Veida Dima

Design and Editing: Crystal Hernandez, Veida Dima, JakeParker, Chiara Watson,Vincy Nguyen, Shyran Moore, Kobi LaCour, Zae McPhearson, Lane Humphrey

Practicum Students: Alissa Cruz, Archie Williams, Caleb Bartlett, Chiara Watson, Cory Didier, Jake Parker, Kevin Santiago, Collin Course, Kobi Lacour, Linda Puga, Rhett Ryan, Serenada Sanchez

Letter from the President

To the Class of 2022, Congratulations, you did it!

Because of your hard work, resilience and commitment, you are now a graduate of Texas Wesleyan University. It took time, energy, hard work and dedication to arrive at this major life achievement. It’s time to celebrate this great accomplishment!

During your time at Texas Wesleyan, you persevered toward graduation in the face of an extraordinary time in history. Having made it this far has made you stronger than you realize. Keep that in mind as you approach the next stage of your journey. You can achieve anything. Your Texas Wesleyan degree proves it.

Your degree tells the world that you have the critical thinking, analytical reasoning and creative problem-solving skills that our society needs right now. Whether the next chapter of your story involves graduate studies or entering the workforce, we are confident that you are ready to excel.

We are so proud of everything you have accomplished. Your success makes Texas Wesleyan the vibrant “Smaller. Smarter” university that it is. I speak for the entire TXWES community when I say that we are thrilled to be able to gather to honor you and your fellow graduates at Commencement on Dec. 17, and I look forward to celebrating your tremendous accomplishment together. I wish you the best of luck and look forward to seeing you back on campus soon.

Fred President, Texas Wesleyan University

From the Student Body President

Dear Fall 2022 Graduates,

You made it!

All of the countless hours of studying, working and planning have brought you to the finish line. You have jumped a hurdle that some can only dream of, and it’s time that you make the most of it.

Use this education to do what makes you happy! Score that dream job, build that family, be leaders in this world and live life to the fullest! This chapter of your life may have reached the end at Texas Wesleyan, but no matter what, you will forever be a Ram!

On behalf of theStudent Government Association, we are so proud of your accomplishments, and we are excited to see what the future holds for you

Sincerely, Jaylon Leonard SGA President

Wilson is passionate about helping others

Casey Wilson, born in Kansas City, is considered to be the ideal student. Joining the Navy in 2009 and graduating with a bachelor’s in history and Spanish, Wilson wants to do non-profit immigration work. He plans to acquire a master’s degree in human rights and then possibly attend law school.

Wilson is very passionate about honoring our country’s immigration history and believes that we live in a country full of opportunities.

“We need to build a pathway for all people, regardless of where they may have come from, so that they may have an opportunity to achieve greatness in all aspects of society,” said Wilson.

Wilson has compiled hundreds of hours of volunteer work, contacted several different professionals in the field for advice and information, attended seminars and talks, and worked for organizations that promote community safety and education. His humanitarian

experiences allow him the ability to succeed from day one because he understands all aspects of what it means to truly serve the people of the world.

While at Wesleyan, his biggest challenge was integrating with some of the younger students.

“There is such a large age gap between myself, and my colleagues and I sometimes find it difficult to see certain things from their perspective. It is no fault of the school or my instructors, just a rift between how different generations behave in social settings.”

Even though he faced some challenges, he learned many important things here, one being that history is not pretty and it is not perfect.

“When we find ourselves looking deep into whatever subject we may happen to be studying, there are always parts of that discipline that will challenge what we may already know or how we currently feel about a specific topic. In order to better ourselves as students and citizens, we need to have an open

mind and sometimes that means we have difficult dialogue.”

Wilson didn’t just become the ideal student all by himself though. He had several role models and mentors throughout his life that helped pave the way for his future. Dr. Christopher Ohan, history professor, was a big influence on him during his time at Texas Wesleyan.

“I honestly believe that he cares about preserving and honoring human history.”

Wilson also sees his grandmother as his biggest role model.

“She treated every single person with respect and dignity regardless of who they were or the choices they made. She knew when it was time to be serious and she definitely knew how to have a good time. When I was 8 years old, we were at the grocery store, and she told me something that I have lived with to this day. She said, ‘People are people and as long as what they are doing is not affecting you, then you treat them with respect.’”

Congratulations,

Graduates!

From the School of Education

Photo courtesy Casey Wilson

Vera aims to educate

Dayami Vera is graduating this fall with a degree in Bilingual Early Childhood Education, but her journey to graduation is one of perseverance and hard work.

The journey for Vera begins after completing high school in 2012. Not knowing what her future would hold, she enrolled in the Tarrant County College Nursing program.

During her time at TCC, she didn’t find the science aspect of nursing too interesting, so she knew a change was on her horizon. Unknowingly, the inspiration for the change would come from her co-workers at Chipotle.

“I would train them, but I would also relate to them and connect with them and they’re like, you would be a really good teacher. And I was like, you know what? I think I would.”

Inspired, she decided that

a career in education could be for her.

At Texas Wesleyan, Vera found a support system and the help to get her through the education program. She was an officer in BESO (Bilingual Education Student Organization) and had her friends and family helping her along the way.

“Once I got to Texas Wesleyan, I saw I had professors that cared about me, and the community here was really strong. It just pushed me forward to want to actually finish something,” she said.

Vera’s younger sister, Johana, was an inspiration for her to complete her degree.

“She’s already going to get her master’s and she’s actual ly the one that pushed me to come back to school. I need that support system because if it wasn’t for her, I wouldn’t be here pushing myself,” she said.

Vera likened her journey through college to the movie

Van Wilder- a film about a 7-year senior college student who finally makes the push towards graduation. Although she completed college in less time than in the film, her perseverance and support structure made it possible for her to accomplish her goals.

After graduation, Vera plans to get a job teaching at an elementary school within Fort Worth ISD.

Hall’s bet pays off

The issue of where to attend college was no different for Texas Wesleyan senior Grace Hall, who decided to take a chance on the small campus on East Rosedale.

“It’s one of the best decisions I’ve ever made”

Hall is a graduating senior in the Class of 2022, and her roots run through the state of Texas. Her father also graduated from Texas Wesleyan.

She grew up and went to high school in DFW, and it only seemed natural that a place like Texas Wesleyan would be at the top of her list.

Texas Wesleyan, however, was not the first choice.

Hall had previously been a student at Baylor University in Waco. Going to a big-time and very exclusive college, one would think that an individual would feel fulfilled there.

But Hall had decided to leave after her third se-

mester, and Texas Wesley an was on her radar.

“I transferred during the middle of my sophomore year, and I picked Wesley an because my best friend was a student here, she just graduated last spring, and my father had gone here,” said Hall.

Despite any uncertain ty that Hall had about attending here prior, it is beyond clear that she belongs here, and her tenure here has not been anything short of impactful.

Hall is graduating with a Bachelor of Sciences in Political Science while also minoring in Music.

Hall plays piano and also has done several internships with congress members Ralph Norman and Kay Granger.

Hall said, “I’ve had a good experience at Wesleyan! I’ve appreciated my professors, who have gone out of their way to assist me during my semesters.”

Despite being quick with her answers, the details of her Texas Wesleyan University life speaks volumes.

Hall is a very hardworking and studious individual. Not many could carry out a stellar career as a student while participating in the professional world with internships and performing concerts in fine arts.

Photo courtesy Dayami Vera

Photo courtesy Grace Hall

Trailblazer Saheb supports the community

Taking part in an accelerated high school program that allowed her to graduate with her associate degree, finance and management major Yamam Saheb has only spent the last two and a half years studying at Wesleyan. Even then, she’s contributed to the university in more ways than one.

Throughout her time here, she’s served as the School of Business representative for the Student Government Association, secretary and president of the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, vice president of Enactus and the American Association of University Woman, lead of a fiscal campaign (Up to Us) and was part of the Inclusion and Diversity Council.

Additionally, Saheb worked as a student employee under the Division of Student Affairs, working as a desk assistant in the Martin University Center and as a Lead New Student Mentor.

“I pursued these opportunities as I really wanted to be challenged and learn about those around me,” Saheb said. “I wanted to be able to support their personal, professional, and academic growth, as well as my own.”

Saheb is a recipient of the Mary I. Gourley Scholarship Foundation and the Alumni Legacy Scholarship.

As a representative in the Student Government Association, she returned $10,000 back to students through bills and initiatives she started.

Saheb has had opportunities to travel through Wes leyan, such as through The Fund for American Studies that allowed her to study, live, and work in the District of Columbia.

Additionally, she was one of seven students that were selected to travel to the New York Enactus Expo sition where they learned about students’ community initiatives that were taking place around the world.

Through her work as a Lead New Student Mentor, she helped support the development of programs for over 500 incoming students.

Just this past semester, she was highlighted as the Heart of Wesleyan and a trailblazer for her efforts in supporting the well-being of others at the Rammy’s Award ceremony.

Saheb says she will miss the compassionate and hardworking people she’s met along the way, as they have become family and made Wesleyan feel like a home. She highlights her professor, Dr. Sameer Vaidya, for constantly supporting the advancement of students.

“He encouraged me to dream big and believes in me when I fail to believe in myself,” Saheb said.

Looking forward, Saheb said she wants to use her degree as a foundation for policy development in mar ginalized and low-income communities similar to the ones she grew up in. Through the coming years, she also wants to return to Wesleyan to get her master’s in business administration.

Graduation is a time to celebrate your achievements, prepare for a future of opportunities and embrace a world of infinite possibilities.

Photo courtesy Yamam Saheb

Criminal Justice department says goodbye to the Odem twins

The twins Aajah and Teajah Odem will be graduating this fall 2022. They started their college career before the pandemic in 2019.

Aajah loves to binge watch serial killer documentaries and criminal shows like Law & Order. Teajah, who is the oldest, considers herself the strict one. She loves cleaning and helping her mom cook.

Teajah describes herself as hardworking, determined and honest while Aajah said she was “quite silly”, loves to laugh and her teachers say she is hardworking.

The Trimble Tech High School offers an upper bound program through Texas Wesleyan. The twins spent a lot of time over their high school summers on the Texas Wesleyan campus before coming to college.

“I chose Texas Wesleyan because I wanted to stay close to home,” Aajah said. The women agreed that Texas Wesleyans campus was amiable. Texas Wesleyan made Aajah more outgoing. Being in Alpha Xi Delta gave her an opportunity to make friends and “lifelong sisters.” The twins joined the sorority in their first year of college.

When Taejah was younger, she was interested in nursing like her mom, but watching criminal

shows shifted her interest to criminal justice.

Aajah said those same shows is “what got me interested in” criminal justice too. She watched and talked about those shows with her late grandmother.

Taejah said, “You can do so much with a criminal justice career. There [are] so many career options.”

Taejah would love to be working on cases about serial killers. Studying them in Dr. Cary Adkinson and Dr. Eddy Linton’s classes helped her see signs of a serial killer.

Aajah said that child trafficking cases frustrate her. She wishes there were a solution because they can never find the person and make sense of what happened.

For now, the twins both want to work with juvenile delinquents. They both are eager to make a difference in the lives of juvenile delinquents by helping them get on a better path or to be the positive impact they need.

Aajah and Taejah are first generation college graduates and are excited to be in the criminal justice field.

Photo courtesy Aajah and Teajah Odem

Graduates

Audrey Acevedo

Monique Adeobe

Aleksandar Aleksandric

Darryl Atwaters

Davon Berry

Gregory Blaser

Heather Brehms

Telisheon Brown

Alam Canales

Stephanie Carlberg

Lukundo Chikuye

Tyquandrik Conner

Amy Coryell

Lindsay Daugherty

Kenard Davis

Tarik Davis

Patrick Deichert

Ian Drakeford

Alicia Elizondo

Christina Garcia

Flor Garcia

James Gonzalez

Alexis Harris

Leroy Harvey

Justyna Kersten

Julie Lamberti

Alyssa Lee

Patricia Lewis

Zubin Macwan

Katherine Martinez

Felisa McDowell

Dracius McKee

Kristopher Moore

Lisa Moore

Angela Newman-Thomas

Lana Nguyen Karissa Nicholson

Odriozola

Jennifer Olson

Joe Ortiz

Emily Othold

Laura Pattee

Taylor Peyton Catherine Pitre Marissa Quintanilla

Kyle Raines

Laaiba Raja Joshua Rule

Norma Sandoval

Sara Siegel

Anita Stout

Nicole Straznicky de Lucio Danyal Syed

Tamara Valle

Charla Washington

Evie Whorley

Brion Williams

Doctoral

Shawn Buchanan

Matthew Canafax

Sekou Fraser

Tiffanie Goudy

Sheena Hernandez

Adrienne Jenkins

Ida Joiner

Carrie Jones

Melissa Kasmeier

Ulrica Kassar

Mehri Pahlavani

Crystal Pham

Jose Santos

Karen Schroeder

Victoria Sendejo

Brandi Smith Janeen Smith Rose

Jennika Appelberg is an international student from Finland and a Texas Wesleyan soccer player. She came to the U.S. looking for opportunities to play professional soccer.

Appelberg’s first arrival in America was at a New York high school, and she was met with a few challenges. The language was tough to master and there was a cultural barrier.

Even though her high school experience was difficult because people made fun of her, she rose above. “That never affected me because I had in mind the player that I am and will be in my future,” she said.

Although this was a challenge, she wanted to be a

Crossing borders and overcoming barriers

high-level player, so she set goals that made her stronger. “I was able to reflect on everything that my family told me: When you arrive in different places in the world you will always see setbacks, in which I need to be tough and move forward.”

She tried to get up early and study English all the while staying focused on her game. After finishing high school, she enrolled at Texas Wesleyan University as a business major with an opportunity to play soccer. Appelberg was happy because she was looking for a college where she would succeed first in business and then in soccer. Although she didn’t know English well when she came

Student athlete succeedes on the court and in class

to TxWes, by the end of her time here, she was captain of the women’s soccer team.

“When everything that happened to me about languages happened, I was able to focus more on learning, and that didn’t bother me,” she said. “I love it here because I have the best coach in my life and the best team.”

After graduation, Appelberg wants to go back home for her master’s because she

Haley Harvey has lived in Texas her entire life and played volleyball for 14 years. She is an exercise science major as well as a volleyball player at Texas Wesleyan University.

She is currently graduating this fall with a 3.9 grade point average while overcoming the obstacles of being a student and athlete. “It is difficult to manage your time,” she said.

Harvey was a high school graduate in 2019 from Mansfield Summit High School

Throughout her time being a student at Wesleyan, Harvey experienced plenty of accomplishments. Her top one was being inducted into the Alpha Chi Honor Society, an organization for the top one to two percent of upperclassmen at universities around the country.

She also made the dean’s list six times, has been a SAC scholar athlete two times, an academic All SAC two times and Commissioners Honor roll three times.

Each class at Texas Wesleyan has helped Harvey learn more about exercise science. These classes began the love for her future career.

Once she graduates this fall Harvey plans to attend graduate school to become a physical therapist. She’s currently finishing her last application and waiting to hear back from each school she applied to.

Her main goal with being a physical therapist is to be successful. “It hasn’t always been an easy road for my family, so I chose this career path to help provide for my family in the future,” she said.

Harvey has learned to deal with the pressure of stress from being a student athlete for 14 years. Graduate school will be a challenge to her. However, she is excited to see what it’s like to just be a student since she’ll no longer play sports in college and can just focus on school.

Each challenge in Harvey’s life has caused her to be the strong woman that she is today. She’s very thankful and said, “I want to have a full life with no regrets.”

A new chapter of her life is beginning soon, and she’s had plenty of preparation for it. This is the new change that she’s been looking forward to her entire life.

Outside of school Harvey lives with her mother Rene’ and their two cats. They love

to relax and watch movies together to pass the time.

Harvey wants to remind other students

Photo courtey Haley Harvey

Major Lehman thrives at Wesleyan

Education major Brandon

swear they're almost soundproof. Once the door is closed, you can't even hear people walking by outside. It's perfect. Also, the Wi-Fi is really good as well.”

Lehman is a transfer student from Tarrant County College. He graduated with an associate’s degree in 2020. Lehman chose Texas Wesleyan to pursue his education degree because of the “incredible cross section of students”.

He said, “There is a fantastic mix of young to old demographics and it all comes together in this absolutely spectacular environment with these wonderful historical buildings and staff.”

Lehman admitted that he was not one of the “traditional students usually found at Texas Wesleyan.” He is currently 49 years old and served in the navy for 26 years.

After he retired from the navy, he wanted to prove to himself that he could go to college and get an education.

And that he did. Lehman’s success at Texas Wesleyan includes accomplishments such as making the Dean's List, as well as receiving the School of Education’s Outstanding Elementary Teacher Award.

He said, “I'm really proud of my GPA. I've worked very hard in my classes.”

Lehman had two specific classes at Texas Wesleyan that were his favorite. They were Honor Technology with Dr. Jackie Gaffner and Children’s Literature with Dr. Lisa Dryden.

“One of the reasons I liked the technology course is because much of the class was done on your own. Then we would meet every couple of weeks. Dr. Gaffner challenged me to do deeper thinking with the different scenarios that were presented in class.”

About his other favorite class, he stated, “I had no idea that books for kids came with such deep variety that you could find a children's book that talks about pretty much any subject imaginable for children, so yeah, that was very interesting.”

His go to study spot at Texas Wesleyan was the library. “On the second floor of the library are these little study rooms. I

Lehman plans to become a middle school science teacher. He also plans further his education by coming back and getting his master’s degree in the fifth year program at Texas Wesleyan.

Lehman’s journey was an amazing part of what makes him such a unique student at Texas Wesleyan.

Class of 2022

m Dr.Colley, Dr. Akinro and Dr. Dean

Lehman is excited for his new path in the world of teaching.

Coker aces his way to graduation

While at Texas Wesleyan, Calvrann Coker pursued a degree in finance. He was home schooled in high school and took a couple of dual credit courses at Tarrant County College.

He decided to come to Texas Wesleyan because he was honored with a golf scholarship by the Ben Hogan Foundation for winning the First Tee of Fort Worth golf tournament.

In addition to his accomplishments, Coker also has over twenty tournament wins, and in 2018 he won two tournaments and was first in the season points challenge for the All-American Tour through the NTPGA Junior Tour.

“It has been difficult to be a student athlete, and I have

had successes and failures during my time at the university,” Coker said. But he wasn’t raised to give up.

Despite the hard work of being a student athlete, he loved that Wesleyan was not only a smaller school but was close to home and his family since he is a Fort Worth native.

Quoting Gucci Mane, his favorite rapper, he said, “I’m satisfied and proud of the things I did- even the bumps and the bruises that I’ve had on the way. You fall, you get up, you brush yourself off, and you keep going. And that is what we’re doing.”

After school, Coker plans to play golf professionally on the PGA tour but plans to take things slow after graduation.

“I am grateful to have had the opportunity to earn a degree from Texas Wesleyan University,” he said. “The staff and faculty are friendly, and they really care about the success of their students. Time sure does pass quickly, it seems like just the other day I was a new freshman just trying to figure everything out.”

Dreams do come true at Wesleyan

As a child Jonathan Nelson wanted to be a businessman like his dad. When he would get in trouble at his daycare, his father would have to bring him to work. “I would go around his office and act like a cowboy and do standoffs with his co-workers,” Nelson said.

After disturbing the whole office, he would be forced to sit down and stay quiet. “During these times I would listen to the way he operated and conducted business, and ever since I have wanted to be just like him.”

Nelson grew up in Fort Worth Texas and graduated from Lake Country Christian High School in 2018. He is now graduating from Texas Wesleyan University with a bachelor’s degree in business management and administration. Nelson played several different sports through middle school and high school. He also played the viola for the Fort Worth Youth Orchestra.“I chose Texas Wesleyan because I love Fort Worth. I saw a place where I could grow and thrive. I saw a place where I could truly spread my wings and challenge myself in many facets of life.” He also considered the student experience at the univer-

sity “[Wesleyan] does not force students to stay in one group, community, or dorm room, TxWes challenges its students to step out of what they are comfortable with and try new things.” Ultimately, he wanted to come to TxWes to be challenged,” he said.

Outside of school and football Nelson enjoys hunting, fishing, welding, carpentry, business and working on vehicles. Nelson looks forward to graduating as well as to his future plan to get married. He is looking forward to using the things he learned at TxWes in the “real world.”

His proudest moments include proposing to his now fiancé, winning the Texas Christian Athlete of the Year Award in 2019 and being a part of the Texas Wesleyan Football Team.

One piece of advice Nelson would give to new incoming freshman is: “Do not look at how far

you must go, just enjoy the process, and know that whatever you are doing right now is exactly where God wants you to be.”

He wishes he knew how fast the college experience would fly by. “Embrace the struggle of getting though college and know that it will make you much stronger than you ever thought was possible, it is hard for a reason.”

Nelson wants to thank his “amazing, supportive fiancé” and his family for helping him get through college and college football, and all the friends he made along the way.

Nelson’s favorite quote is from athlete David Groggins: “Everybody comes to a point in their life when they want to quit. But it’s what you do at that moment that defines who you are.”

Photo courtesy Jonathan Nelson

Pena-Chavez proves that patience is a virtue

Merilyn Pena-Chavez is an English major at Texas Wesleyan University.

Originally from Chicago, she grew up speaking Spanish. She moved to Texas at the age of five where she attended school and had to learn English for the first time.

Overcoming the language barrier was a struggle for Pena-Chavez resulting in almost being held back in school. She started kindergarten late and spent her summers at school to improve her English.

Pena-Chavez’s setbacks did not stop her. By the second grade, her mother was told that she was smart enough to skip third grade and go straight to fourth.

Her mother decided she was too young to skip third grade, but she eventually moved ahead in high school. Pena-Chavez spent only three years in high school before moving on to Tarrant County College.

Suffering from severe burnout,

she dropped out of college in her first year in 2018 and began working. After working a few jobs here and there, she decided to go back to school in 2019. “I don’t want to do this for the rest of my life,” said Pena-Chavez.

After receiving her associates from Tarrant County College, she transferred to Texas Wesleyan University and is set to graduate this fall. After graduation Pena-Chavez plans to pursue a career as an English teacher.

She understands that kids may be struggling in school coming out of the pandemic and she is ready to help. “I have the patience for [helping] because someone had the patience for me when I couldn’t understand English,” said Pena-Chavez.

Tullis has a bright future ahead of her

Tianna Tullis was born and raised in Atlanta, Georgia, but at the end of her sixth-grade year, she moved to Texas to seek a better opportunity for her future.

Tullis played basketball for over 10 years and has played every position, though she does not want to go pro.

At the beginning of her college basketball career, she started off at Pratt Community College where she graduated with an associate in psychology. Now she is a senior and will be graduating in December with a bachelor’s degree in psychology.

A few of Tullis’ hobbies besides basketball include painting and binge-watching shows and movies. Her favorite genre of movie

is action movies, and her favorite show is Law and Order SVU.

She likes going out with her friends, bowling, playing laser tag or playing arcade games. “Going to clubs are fun, but I would much rather go to an arcade,” said Tullis.

In five years, she sees herself as a coach, either at a high school, junior college or possibly an assistant coach at a university. “You never know what your future holds, but I see myself financially stable, mentally sound and working towards my dream job,” she said.

She also sees herself in a healthy relationship, hoping to one day start a family.

Her dream job is to be a suc-

cessful head women’s basketball coach, but she doesn’t want to just coach the game of basketball, she also wants to help mentor young females.

Tullis has a bright future ahead of her. She approaches things with her head high and leads by examples.

“The way I approach things is confidently. If I want to get to where I want to be, I have to take on [the] task head on and exceed expectations,” Tullis said.

Tullis’s leadership and passion to support other’s success is something that will make her a great coach and parent one day. Her confidence and tenacity help her achieve above and beyond her goals.

Photo courtesy Merilyn Pena-Chavez

Photo courtesy Tiana Tullis

Courage over comfort inspires Babb

Ashley Babb was inspired by her parents and husband to go after her dream of achieving a bachelor’s degree.

She originally graduated from the Art Institute of Dallas with an associate degree and decided to continue her education through Texas Wesleyan University to pursue her bachelor’s degree in marketing due to the lack of opportunities that came with an associate’s degree compared to bachelors.

Babb almost felt selfish in the fact that she was returning to school in her adult age, especially when her husband also expressed his regret not finishing a degree. In the end, he encouraged her to go for it anyways.

She loved the small town feel of Wesleyan and how everyone was friendly and open to helping her out or answering questions or just wanting to be friends in general.

“I enjoyed the fact that Texas Wesleyan was a smaller school,” she said.

Babb felt accepted as a returning student and was grateful for being able to be herself as she continued her academic journey. She was concerned about trying to fit in with the typical students straight out of high school.

She was accepted as is and felt like at

a bigger university this would not be the case, simply due to the lack of personalization of the people and the campus.

A main concern of hers was the math requirements that different universities had and she was trying to take the least amount of mathematics as she could.

She decided to go back to school after accomplishing a small but still relevant and important degree. Completing an associates revealed her willingness to continue her education.

“I was seeking out better opportunities and job experiences to put herself through while still making sure I was striving to be the best person I could be personally and academically,” she said.

Her main reason for returning to college for a bachelors was to change her career path and make a better life for herself and her family. She felt trapped within her limits when it came to her current job opportunities and career pathways.

It takes a lot of courage to return to school after a break in life and career choices, especially returning to school at an age that is not always accepted or considered .

She has accomplished her goals and is ready for her next steps in life.

Photo courtesy Ashley Babb

Congratulations Graduates!

From the School of Arts & Sciences